Page 7 - Anna Doxie first new format

Our first stop of the day is Casa Pedro Domecq Winery, a of thermal materials and is partially buried in the ground to
large establishment that can handle big groups. There is a assist in keeping the insides a moderate temperature for
bus in the parking lot when we arrive. We chat with some aging wine. He proudly shows us their stainless steel
people and find that they are on a day trip from the cruise fermenting tanks, and rows and rows of American and
boat that has docked in Ensenada for the day. The tasting French oak barrels. There is a tasting room that is being
room is large and spacious with two walls of floor to ceiling constructed in this building. I, for one, will be sad when I
windows overlooking the Calafia Valley. It is designed to cannot taste wine in the kitchen of the family’s home, as it
handle many people at one time. There are many group- is quaint and homey- two factors that I love in wine tasting.
ings of comfortable chairs to sit and relax and taste wine.

The winemaker here is Argentinean. They are tasting their
Califia label wines today with their table wines: Tinto and
Blanco Chateau Camou is “just down the street”, so we
decide to pop over there, only stopping twice for directions.
This lovely family owned winery has rows and rows of wine
barrels lining the walkway to the tasting area. We are im-
mediately charmed. Although the tasting room attendant
doesn’t speak a lot of English we are able to communicate
in the language of wine. We are treated to a 10 year old
Chardonnay that astounds us. It is rich, buttery and very
complex.

Next we’re off to the Russian winery:
Bibayoff. The daughter is hosting the bar
here today. She speaks passable English
and we share a common language of hmms,
yumms, and smacking lips as we taste their
wonderful reds. Many Russians immigrated
to Mexico a century ago and have assimi-
lated into the culture. Who knew! This small San Diego Woman
and humble winery has bold and powerful
Cabernet and Moscatel wines.
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Our last stop of the day is at Vinisterra Winery. This is a
husband and wife operation. They are both hosting the bar
today. When we arrive late in the afternoon, the tasting area
is full of a group of bicyclers who are on a day tour from the
cruise line. We enjoy tasting in what was the family home
for many generations. It is made with local red brick, has
arches in the patio and a green grassy area where there is
a barbecue and a covered patio for al fresco dining.

They have three labels of wine. Their lower end is Domino
(affectionately named after their domino games in the patio
while sipping wine). The mid level brand is Macouzet, which
is the wife’s family name. Their high end brand is Vinisterra.
The Swiss winemaker, Christopher Gartner, is very ac-
complished and has created many lovely, drinkable wines.
His philosophy, we were told, is that since Americans who
go there can only bring back a small amount of alcohol,
they will instead opt to buy a bottle of wine to enjoy while in
Mexico. So, his wines are created more with the intent of
drinking now instead of laying down for a few years to age.

Mr. Rodriguez, the co-proprietor proudly takes us on a short
tour of the production and storage building that is located
on what was once the family tennis court. It is constructed
March/April 2008